Dr. Thang Nam Do is a Fellow in the Zero-Carbon Energy for Asia-Pacific Grand Challenge Program in the Resources, Environment and Development program, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University (ANU).

His policy-oriented research includes energy transition, climate change, water governance, environmental policy, ecosystem valuation, and sustainable cities, and a focus on Vietnam, Mekong, and Southeast Asia.

He has published in Energy Policy, Energy, Marine Policy, Energy for Sustainable Development, Environment and Development Economics, Asian Economic Policy Review, Water, Earth’s Future, Frontiers in Environmental Science, Asia Pacific Viewpoint, and Energy and Climate Change.

With over 25 years work experience in Southeast Asia, Dr. Do has served as Deputy Director General of International Cooperation, Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; as the Global Environment Facility (GEF)’s Operational Focal Point for Vietnam; as the Chair of the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change; and the Vietnam national focal point of the ASEAN Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable Cities and Water Environment Partnership for Asia. He is currently a convener for the Masterclass on Climate and Energy Transition for Vietnamese MPs and the United Nations Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership Roundtable Series.

Thang holds a PhD in Environmental Economics from the ANU (thesis titled “Impacts of dyke management strategies on Wetland Values in the Mekong Delta”), a Master in Environment Management and Development from the ANU, and a Bachelor in Environmental Engineering from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Canada.

Research interests

• Energy transition
• Climate change
• Environmental policy
• Mekong Water-Energy nexus
• Sustainable cities
• Vietnam, Mekong, and Southeast Asia
• Economic instruments for environmental management in the developing country context.

Projects

Ongoing

• Phasing out coal power in a developing country context: Insights from Vietnam

• Insider perspectives on Southeast Asiaʼs clean energy transition

• Underlying drivers and barriers to Vietnam’s solar PV

• Vietnam success in solar and wind power: Policy implications for other ASEAN countries

• Greening economic development in Asia

• ASEAN 100% renewable electricity

• Vietnam carbon pricing: options for adoption

• ASEAN cross-border electricity trade

• Policy options for offshore wind power in Vietnam

• Vietnam’s environmental policy: a 30-year critical review

• Harnessing solar and wind for sustainable cross-border electricity trade in the Greater Mekong Subregion

• Impacts of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM) on developing countries

• Just Energy Transition Partnerships

• Phasing out coal power in Southeast Asia

Completed

Co-founding signatory of Geneva Actions on Global Human Water Security Fund and the Food Energy Environment Water Network.
Senior Advisor for World Bank project “Vietnam’s Water Governance” , Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6th Assembly, GEF/ADB project “Mainstreaming Climate Resilience and Environmental Protection for Green Secondary Cities Development”, and IGES/ASEAN Sustainable Development Goal’s Forerunning Cities Program.

Director of: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) study on water environment management of river basins in Vietnam, ASEAN-Institute of Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) project on ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Model Cities, Strengthening Environmental Capacity for Vietnam Project (Counterpart: Japan Ministry of Environment/Environmental Management Technology, Overseas Environmental Cooperation Centre-OECC); Developing Solid Waste Management visions for Vietnam (Counterpart: Japan National Institute of Environmental Studies); Vietnam-Korean project on soil and ground water remediation-VEA/MONRE.

Chief investigator of Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA-IDRC)’s project: Impacts of Dykes on Wetland Values in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta: A Case Study in the Plain of Reeds.

Principal of Research Consulting Group on Environment and Development in Viet Nam.

Policy discussions

Policy plays pivotal role in facilitating transitioning towards cleaner energy sources

Decarbonisation is a trade imperative for Vietnam

Why there is no such thing as a painless transition

Boosting Southeast Asia’s cross-border electricity trade

Harnessing offshore wind for green growth in Vietnam

Adding substance to Vietnam’s climate commitments.

Carbon pricing insights from Vietnam.

Vietnam’s solar boom: policy implications for other ASEAN member states.

Vietnam pioneers post pandemic carbon pricing.

The next steps for Vietnam booming solar sector.

Vietnam’s environmental challenges risk EU free trade.

Bold actions needed to address Vietnam’s air pollution.

Vietnam struggles to go with the flow.

Impact of dyke management on wetland values in Vietnam Mekong Delta.